U.S. patent application number 16/375171 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-08 for systems and methods for monitoring the health of a rotating machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell international Inc.. Invention is credited to Norman Cornelius CLAMPITT, III, Kelsey KEBERLE, Thomas Mark MacRUNNEL, Aerwin PEREZ, Mohit SINGHAI.
Application Number | 20200317367 16/375171 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004040113 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200317367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CLAMPITT, III; Norman Cornelius ;
et al. |
October 8, 2020 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING THE HEALTH OF A ROTATING
MACHINE
Abstract
A method for monitoring the health of a rotating machine mounted
on a vehicle is disclosed. The method may include: receiving
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a
portable vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine;
receiving vibration data from the portable vibration sensor during
a test of the rotating machine, the received vibration data being
associated with the identifying information of the vehicle, the
rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor; comparing the
received vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating
machine; generating an alert if the received vibration data exceeds
a predetermined threshold value of the known vibration data;
generating a health report for the rotating machine based on the
received vibration data; and transmitting the health report to a
user via a web portal.
Inventors: |
CLAMPITT, III; Norman
Cornelius; (Long Beach, CA) ; SINGHAI; Mohit;
(Chandler, AZ) ; MacRUNNEL; Thomas Mark; (Lomita,
CA) ; PEREZ; Aerwin; (Azusa, CA) ; KEBERLE;
Kelsey; (Morris Plains, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell international Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004040113 |
Appl. No.: |
16/375171 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C 5/0808 20130101;
B64D 45/00 20130101; B64D 2045/0085 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B64D 45/00 20060101
B64D045/00; G07C 5/08 20060101 G07C005/08 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring the health of a
rotating machine mounted on a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, identifying information of the vehicle,
the rotating machine, and a portable vibration sensor mounted on
the rotating machine; receiving, by the processor, vibration data
from the portable vibration sensor during a test of the rotating
machine, the received vibration data being associated with the
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and
the portable vibration sensor; comparing, by the processor, the
received vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating
machine; generating, by the processor, an alert if the received
vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the known
vibration data; generating, by the processor, a health report for
the rotating machine based on the received vibration data, the
health report including the received vibration data associated with
the identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine,
and the portable vibration sensor, wherein the health report
further includes the generated alert; and transmitting, by the
processor, the health report to a user via a web portal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, by the processor,
the identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine,
and the portable vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine
includes: receiving, by the processor, the identifying information
from an application on a mobile computing device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving, by the processor,
the vibration data from the portable vibration sensor during the
test of the rotating machine includes: receiving, by the processor,
the vibration data from the application on the mobile computing
device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the
processor, the predetermined threshold value of the known vibration
data for the rotating machine by correlating peaks of pre-measured
vibration data for the rotating machine to failure conditions of
the rotating machine, wherein the pre-measured vibration data for
the rotating machine is measured during one or more trial tests of
the rotating machine to generate the known vibration data for the
rotating machine prior the rotating machine being mounted on the
vehicle.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined threshold value
of the known vibration data includes a plurality of predetermined
threshold values each corresponding to a failure condition of a
different component of the rotating machine.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the generating, by the processor,
the alert if the received vibration data exceeds the predetermined
threshold value of the known vibration data includes: generating,
by the processor, one or more alerts if the received vibration data
exceeds one or more of the plurality of predetermined threshold
values of the known vibration data, wherein the one or more alerts
each indicate a respective component of the rotating machine is
failing.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the
processor, a suggested corrective action for the user based on the
comparing of the received vibration data with the known vibration
data; and transmitting, by the processor, the suggested corrective
action to the user.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated health report
includes one or more graphical representations of the received
vibration data.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable vibration sensor
includes: a set of clamps having an opening for receiving a
wireless vibration sensor; and a wireless vibration sensor mounted
in the opening of the set of clamps, wherein the set of clamps are
selectively clamped to the rotating machine prior to receiving the
vibration data from the portable vibration sensor.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and
the rotating machine is a vacuum blower of a waste system onboard
the aircraft.
11. A system for monitoring the health of a rotating machine
mounted on a vehicle, the system comprising: a memory having
processor-readable instructions therein; and at least one processor
configured to access the memory and execute the processor-readable
instructions, which when executed by the processor configures the
processor to perform a plurality of functions, including functions
for: receiving, by the processor, identifying information of the
vehicle, the rotating machine, and a portable vibration sensor
mounted on the rotating machine; receiving, by the processor,
vibration data from the portable vibration sensor during a test of
the rotating machine, the received vibration data being associated
with the identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating
machine, and the portable vibration sensor; comparing, by the
processor, the received vibration data with known vibration data
for the rotating machine; generating, by the processor, an alert if
the received vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold value
of the known vibration data; generating, by the processor, a health
report for the rotating machine based on the received vibration
data, the health report including the received vibration data
associated with the identifying information of the vehicle, the
rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor, wherein the
health report further includes the generated alert; and
transmitting, by the processor, the health report to a user via a
web portal.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving, by the
processor, the identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating
machine, and the portable vibration sensor mounted on the rotating
machine includes: receiving, by the processor, the identifying
information from an application on a mobile computing device.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiving, by the
processor, the vibration data from the portable vibration sensor
during the test of the rotating machine includes: receiving, by the
processor, the vibration data from the application on the mobile
computing device.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of functions
further include functions for: determining, by the processor, the
predetermined threshold value of the known vibration data for the
rotating machine by correlating peaks of pre-measured vibration
data for the rotating machine to failure conditions of the rotating
machine, wherein the pre-measured vibration data for the rotating
machine is measured during one or more trial tests of the rotating
machine to generate the known vibration data for the rotating
machine prior the rotating machine being mounted on the
vehicle.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined threshold
value of the known vibration data includes a plurality of
predetermined threshold values each corresponding to a failure
condition of a different component of the rotating machine.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the generating, by the
processor, the alert if the received vibration data exceeds the
predetermined threshold value of the known vibration data includes:
generating, by the processor, one or more alerts if the received
vibration data exceeds one or more of the plurality of
predetermined threshold values of the known vibration data, wherein
the one or more alerts each indicate a respective component of the
rotating machine is failing.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of functions
further include functions for: determining, by the processor, a
suggested corrective action for the user based on the comparing of
the received vibration data with the known vibration data; and
transmitting, by the processor, the suggested corrective action to
the user.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the generated health report
includes one or more graphical representations of the received
vibration data.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the portable vibration sensor
includes: a set of clamps having an opening for receiving a
wireless vibration sensor; and a wireless vibration sensor mounted
in the opening of the set of clamps, wherein the set of clamps are
selectively clamped to the rotating machine prior to receiving the
vibration data from the portable vibration sensor.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing
instructions for monitoring the health of a rotating machine
mounted on a vehicle, comprising: receiving, by a processor,
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a
portable vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine;
receiving, by the processor, vibration data from the portable
vibration sensor during a test of the rotating machine, the
received vibration data being associated with the identifying
information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and the portable
vibration sensor; comparing, by the processor, the received
vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating machine;
generating, by the processor, an alert if the received vibration
data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the known vibration
data; generating, by the processor, a health report for the
rotating machine based on the received vibration data, the health
report including the received vibration data associated with the
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and
the portable vibration sensor, wherein the health report further
includes the generated alert; and transmitting, by the processor,
the health report to a user via a web portal.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally
relate to sensing and managing rotating machines and, more
particularly, to systems and methods for monitoring the health of a
rotating machine mounted on a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Rotating machines are used in a variety of industrial and
transportation applications. Rotating machines may be machines that
including rotating members and are relied upon for numerous
functions including drive shafts, fans, belt drives, pumps, rotors,
etc. Because rotating machines often involve high service lives,
heavy hourly usage, heavy loads, and/or fast rotational speeds,
rotating machines can fail without warning.
[0003] In a vehicular or aviation environment, components (e.g.,
rotating members) can fail within rotating machines mounted on
those vehicles, such as within a vacuum blower for the waste system
of a commercial aircraft. For example, foreign objects may enter
and damage the vacuum blower such that minor leaks may occur in the
waste system. Minor leaks may go unnoticed by aircraft maintenance
personnel until the leaks cause failure of the waste system. When
the waste system fails due to leaks or other causes, the vacuum
blower may need to be removed for maintenance and/or replacement.
Unscheduled removal of the vacuum blower may cause expensive
business interruptions such as delays and cancellations of
flights.
[0004] The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more
of these above-referenced challenges.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] According to certain aspects of the disclosure, systems and
methods are disclosed for monitoring the health of a rotating
machine
[0006] In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for monitoring
the health of a rotating machine mounted on a vehicle is disclosed.
The method may include: receiving, by a processor, identifying
information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a portable
vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine; receiving, by the
processor, vibration data from the portable vibration sensor during
a test of the rotating machine, the received vibration data being
associated with the identifying information of the vehicle, the
rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor; comparing, by
the processor, the received vibration data with known vibration
data for the rotating machine; generating, by the processor, an
alert if the received vibration data exceeds a predetermined
threshold value of the known vibration data; generating, by the
processor, a health report for the rotating machine based on the
received vibration data, the health report including the received
vibration data associated with the identifying information of the
vehicle, the rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor,
the health report further includes the generated alert; and
transmitting, by the processor, the health report to a user via a
web portal.
[0007] In another aspect, a system for monitoring the health of a
rotating machine mounted on a vehicle is disclosed. The system may
include: a memory having processor-readable instructions therein;
and at least one processor configured to access the memory and
execute the processor-readable instructions, which when executed by
the processor configures the processor to perform a plurality of
functions, including functions for: receiving, by the processor,
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a
portable vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine;
receiving, by the processor, vibration data from the portable
vibration sensor during a test of the rotating machine, the
received vibration data being associated with the identifying
information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and the portable
vibration sensor; comparing, by the processor, the received
vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating machine;
generating, by the processor, an alert if the received vibration
data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the known vibration
data; generating, by the processor, a health report for the
rotating machine based on the received vibration data, the health
report including the received vibration data associated with the
identifying information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and
the portable vibration sensor, the health report further includes
the generated alert; and transmitting, by the processor, the health
report to a user via a web portal.
[0008] In yet another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable
medium containing instructions for monitoring the health of a
rotating machine mounted on a vehicle is disclosed. The
instructions may include: receiving, by a processor, identifying
information of the vehicle, the rotating machine, and a portable
vibration sensor mounted on the rotating machine; receiving, by the
processor, vibration data from the portable vibration sensor during
a test of the rotating machine, the received vibration data being
associated with the identifying information of the vehicle, the
rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor; comparing, by
the processor, the received vibration data with known vibration
data for the rotating machine; generating, by the processor, an
alert if the received vibration data exceeds a predetermined
threshold value of the known vibration data; generating, by the
processor, a health report for the rotating machine based on the
received vibration data, the health report including the received
vibration data associated with the identifying information of the
vehicle, the rotating machine, and the portable vibration sensor,
the health report further includes the generated alert; and
transmitting, by the processor, the health report to a user via a
web portal.
[0009] Additional objects and advantages of the disclosed
embodiments will be set forth in part in the description that
follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may
be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The objects
and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be realized and
attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
[0010] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed
embodiments, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various
exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a system for monitoring
the health of a rotating machine mounted on a vehicle, according to
one or more embodiments.
[0013] FIGS. 2-4 depict various embodiments of an exemplary
portable vibration sensor, respectively, of system 100.
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts the portable vibration sensor mounted on a
rotating machine isolated from a vehicle of the system of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of a method for monitoring the
health of a rotating machine mounted on a vehicle of the system of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIGS. 7A-7G depict an exemplary user interface of an
application for a mobile computing device used for the system of
FIG. 1.
[0017] FIGS. 8A-8B depict an exemplary web portal for displaying a
health report of the rotating machine of the system of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 9 depicts a high-level functional block diagram of an
exemplary computer device or system, in which embodiments of the
present disclosure, or portions thereof, may be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following embodiments describe systems and methods for
monitoring the health of a rotating machine mounted on or part of
any type of industrial system or machine, such as a vehicle. As
used herein, a "rotating machine" may include any type of machine
having at least one rotating member, such as drive shafts, fans,
belt drives, pumps, rotors, etc. A "rotating machine" may further
include the rotating member (fan, blower, etc.) of the rotating
machine. As described above, there is a need to detect when a
rotating member or rotating machine (e.g., a vacuum blower) on a
vehicle is likely to fail prior to the machine failing, to avoid
costly delays and cancellations. In general, the present disclosure
is directed to generating and providing a health report of a
rotating machine (e.g., a machine having a rotating member) in a
vehicle. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a
wireless portable vibration sensor and/or temperature sensor to
measure vibrations and/or temperature of the rotating machine. For
aircraft, maintenance personnel may apply the wireless portable
vibration sensor and/or temperature sensor to the rotating machine
during maintenance activity on the ground. The rotating machine may
be run on the aircraft on the ground to measure health of the
rotating machine. Vibration data may be transmitted wirelessly to
receivers on the ground, which may collect and retransmit the data
to a system capable of storing, analyzing, summarizing, and
presenting the data to consumers of the data, such as operators and
a manufacturer of the rotating machine.
[0020] The portable vibration sensor may include a set of clamps to
allow a maintenance technician to mount, or clamp, the portable
vibration sensor on to the rotating machine. The sensor may utilize
a vibration signature of the rotating machine to measure health of
the rotating machine. The system may provide an alert (via email
and/or web portal) when the measured vibration signature exceeds an
operational threshold of the rotating machine. The vibration
signature data and observations may be recorded by a mobile
application. The data may be automatically and securely uploaded to
a cloud-based platform where analytics may be executed to generate
the health reports.
[0021] In some embodiments, to collect the vibration signature
data, a maintenance technician may board the vehicle, place the
portable vibration sensor on the rotating machine and use a mobile
application to run a test. Before initiating the test, the
technician may input identifying information of the vehicle, the
portable vibration sensor, and the rotating machine. The portable
vibration sensor may record the vibration signature when the
rotating machine is run and automatically send data of the
vibration signature to the cloud-based platform. The above steps
may be performed for each test on a plurality of rotating
machines.
[0022] The rotating machine analytics of the data may be accessed
via a secured web portal. For example, a landing page of the web
portal may display drill-down dashboards for each vehicle (e.g., a
fleet of aircraft). Detailed and accurate health reports may be
generated and available for each rotating machine.
[0023] Embodiments may further provide for a mobile application for
tagging (e.g., inputting) identifying information for each ground
test of each rotating machine. The mobile application may be used
to begin a test on a respective rotating machine. The portable
vibration sensor may collect raw vibration data and send the
collected raw vibration data to the cloud-based platform. The
cloud-based platform may further perform analytics on the raw
vibration data to generate a health report for the rotating
machine. The health report may be published on the web portal using
the identifying information for the tagged information (e.g.,
identifying information of the vehicle, portable vibration sensor,
and rotating machine) and the sensor data associated with the
tagged information. Maintenance technicians may view the health
report and order the rotating machine or component to be replaced
within a certain number of days before it causes disruption.
[0024] While the present embodiments are described in relation to a
vacuum pump, for example, it should be appreciated that the present
embodiments are relevant to the detection of vibrations in any
rotating machine, such as a drive shaft, turbine, pump, impeller,
motor, fan, rotor, or any other vibrating body. Moreover, while the
present embodiments are described in relation to a rotating machine
on an aircraft, it should be appreciated that the present
embodiments are relevant to the detection and transmission of the
health of any other type of machine, vehicle, or industrial
system/machine. Thus, the embodiments of the present disclosure
described herein may provide mechanical health data to identify
trends in individual machines on various vehicles or machines.
Further, the embodiments of the present disclosure may help to
prevent expensive delays and cancellations. Manufacturers may also
gain insight into mechanical health of a fleet of aircraft and any
issues emerging in the field, as well as more detail about actual
operation of the equipment in the field.
[0025] The subject matter of the present description will now be
described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which form a part thereof, and which show, by way of
illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. An embodiment or
implementation described herein as "exemplary" is not to be
construed as preferred or advantageous, for example, over other
embodiments or implementations; rather, it is intended to reflect
or indicate that the embodiment(s) is/are "example" embodiment(s).
Subject matter can be embodied in a variety of different forms and,
therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be
construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set
forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be
illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or
covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for
example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices,
components, or systems. Accordingly, embodiments may, for example,
take the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination
thereof (other than software per se). The following detailed
description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting
sense.
[0026] Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have
nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an
explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase "in one embodiment"
as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment
and the phrase "in another embodiment" as used herein does not
necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for
example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of
exemplary embodiments in whole or in part.
[0027] The terminology used below may be interpreted in its
broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in
conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific
examples of the present disclosure. Indeed, certain terms may even
be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be
interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and
specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the features, as claimed.
[0028] Referring now to the appended drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a
block diagram of a system 100 for monitoring the health of a
rotating machine mounted within or on a vehicle, according to one
or more embodiments. In general, system 100 comprises a plurality
of vehicles, e.g., aircraft 110, mobile computing devices 112, and
a ground system 102 all disposed in communication with each other
via a network 108, such as the Internet.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, ground system 102 may include a server
system 104 and one or more databases 106. The server system 104 may
include one or more processors configured to execute instructions
for monitoring the health of a rotating machine, as further
detailed below. The server system 104 may include an application
program interface (API) server, web page servers, processing
servers, analytics servers, or any other types of front-end or
back-end servers. Ground system 102 may be connected to a network
108, such as a cloud-based network.
[0030] One or more vehicles 110, such as one or more aircraft, may
connect to ground system 102 through network 108. Each vehicle 110
may have at least one rotating machine 502 (as shown in FIG. 5)
mounted to or within the respective vehicle 110. For example, each
aircraft 110 may include a rotating machine 502, such as a vacuum
blower mounted in the aircraft 110 for use in a waste system of the
aircraft 110, as further detailed below. Each vehicle 110 may
further collect and send data to ground system 102 through network
108. In one embodiment, each vehicle 110 may send vibration data of
a respective rotating machine 502 (collected via a portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 as detailed below) to ground system
102 through network 108. Ground system 102 (via server system 104)
may receive the data from each aircraft 110 through network 108. In
one embodiment, a user, such as a maintenance technician, may use
an application 700 on a mobile computing device 112 to collect
vibration data of the rotating machine 502 from the portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402. The user may then send the
vibration data to ground system 102 from the mobile computing
device 112 through network 108.
[0031] Ground system 102 may further process and perform analytics
on the data to generate one or more health reports 802 for the
rotating machine 502 of each aircraft 110 for transmission to and
display on the one or more mobile computing devices 112, as further
detailed below. The health reports 802 may be accessed by users via
a web portal 800 through network 108 (as shown in FIGS. 8A-8B).
[0032] FIGS. 2-4 depict various embodiments of an exemplary
portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402, respectively, of system
100. As shown in FIG. 2, portable vibration sensor 202 may include
a vibration sensor 204 mounted in clamps 206 for placing the
portable vibration sensor 202 on a respective rotating machine 502.
Vibration sensor 204 may be an accelerometer, such as a
piezoelectric accelerometer, piezoresistive accelerometer,
capacitive accelerometer, thermal (or convective) accelerometer, or
the like. Vibration sensor 204 may be powered by a battery or the
like. In one embodiment, vibration sensor 204 may harvest energy
from vibrations of rotating machine 502, such as via a
piezoelectric device. Vibration sensor 204 may include a wireless
transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a mobile computing
device 112 and/or server system 104 of ground system 102. For
example, vibration sensor 204 may communicate with the mobile
computing device 112 and/or server system 104 via Bluetooth.RTM.,
WiFi, radio, cellular, infrared, or any other type of wireless
communication known in the art. As such, vibration sensor 204 may
communicate with the mobile computing device 112 and/or server
system 104 to send vibration data to mobile computing device 112
and/or server system 104, as further detailed below.
[0033] Clamps 206 may include a first elongated member 208 and a
second elongated member 210. First elongated member 208 may be
pivotably coupled to second elongated member 210 at a pivot 212 by
fastening means 214. Fastening means 214 may be a nut and bolt,
pin, or the like. First elongated member 208 may include a jaw 216
at a front end portion 217 thereof, a handle 218 at a rear end
portion 219, and a middle portion 220 between jaw 216 and handle
218. Similarly, second elongated member 210 may include a jaw 222
at a front end portion 223 thereof, a handle 224 at a rear end
portion 225, and a middle portion 226 between jaw 222 and handle
224.
[0034] Jaw 216 may include a flat portion 228 and jaw 222 may
include a flat portion 230 spaced from, and facing, flat portion
228 of jaw 216 for biasing a surface of rotating machine 502, as
further detailed below. Jaw 222 may further include an opening 232
located on an opposite side of flat portion 230 for receiving
vibration sensor 204. Opening 232 may include a size and shape
corresponding to vibration sensor 204 such that vibration sensor
204 may be press fit into opening 232. For example, opening 232 may
include a generally rectangular shape corresponding to a
rectangular shape of vibration sensor 204. It is understood that
opening 232 may be any size or shape necessary for press fitting
vibration sensor 204 into opening 232. In one embodiment, vibration
sensor 204 may be secured in opening 232 by fastening means (not
shown), such as nut and bolt, pin, adhesive, or any other fastening
means known in the art for securing vibration sensor 204 in opening
232.
[0035] Pivot 212 may be located at middle portions 220 and 226 of
first and second elongated members 208 and 210. Pivot may include a
compression spring (not shown) between first elongated member 208
and second elongated member 210 for resiliently biasing handles 218
and 224 to an open position such that jaw 216 and jaw 222 are
spaced apart to be placed on a surface. Pivot 212 may further
include a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking clamps 206 in a
closed position when flat portions 228 and 230 of jaws 216 and 222
are secured on respective surfaces of rotating machine 502. As
such, handle 218 of first elongated member 208 may further include
an actuator mechanism 234 for actuating the locking mechanism
between a locked position and an unlocked position. It is
understood that any type of spring, such as a leaf spring, may be
used at pivot 212 for resiliently biasing handles 218 and 224 to an
open position. In one embodiment, handle 218 may also include an
aperture 236 for securing (e.g., by a clip or the like) clamps 206
onto, for example, a tool belt, a belt loop, a bag, or the
like.
[0036] Middle portions 220 and 226 may each include a bore (not
shown) for receiving fastening means 214 to secure first elongated
member 208 to second elongated member 210. For example, middle
portions 220 and 226 may be sized and shaped such that middle
portion 220 of first elongated member 208 is received by middle
portion 226 of second elongated member 210. The bores of middle
portions 220 and 226 may be aligned such that fastening means 214
may be placed into each of the bores and secured (e.g., by a nut).
Thus, first elongated member 208 may be pivotably coupled to second
elongated member 210.
[0037] Clamps 206 may include a shape and design for ergonomics
while being held by a user and for saving space for storage, for
example, on a tool belt of the user. As such, handles 218 and 224
may include a curvature (as shown in FIG. 2) for easily and
comfortably fitting into the user's hand. Thus, handles 218 and 224
may be spaced apart from each other.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, portable vibration sensor 302 may
include a vibration sensor 304 mounted in clamps 306 for placing
the portable vibration sensor 302 on a respective rotating machine
502. Vibration sensor 304 may be powered by a battery or the like.
In one embodiment, vibration sensor 304 may harvest energy from
vibrations of rotating machine 502, such as via a piezoelectric
device. Vibration sensor 304 may include a wireless transceiver for
wirelessly communicating with a mobile computing device 112 and/or
server system 104 of ground system 102. For example, vibration
sensor 304 may communicate with the mobile computing device 112
and/or server system 104 via Bluetooth.RTM., WiFi, radio, cellular,
infrared, or any other type of wireless communication known in the
art. As such, vibration sensor 304 may communicate with the mobile
computing device 112 and/or server system 104 to send vibration
data to the mobile computing device 112 and/or server system 104,
as further detailed below.
[0039] Clamps 306 may include a first elongated member 308 and a
second elongated member 310. First elongated member 308 may be
pivotably coupled to second elongated member 310 at a pivot 312 by
fastening means 314. Fastening means 314 may include a nut and
bolt, pin, or the like. First elongated member 308 may include a
jaw 316 at a front end portion 317 thereof, a handle 318 at a rear
end portion 319, and a middle portion 320 between jaw 316 and
handle 318. Similarly, second elongated member 310 may include a
jaw 322 at a front end portion 323 thereof, a handle 324 at a rear
end portion 325, and a middle portion 326 between jaw 322 and
handle 324.
[0040] Jaw 316 may include a flat portion 328 and jaw 322 may
include a flat portion 330 spaced from, and facing, flat portion
328 of jaw 316 for biasing a surface of rotating machine 502, as
further detailed below. Jaw 322 may further include an opening 332
located on an opposite side of flat portion 330 for receiving
vibration sensor 304. Opening 332 may include a size and shape
corresponding to vibration sensor 304 such that vibration sensor
304 may be press fit into opening 332. For example, opening 332 may
include a generally rectangular shape corresponding to a
rectangular shape of vibration sensor 304. It is understood that
opening 332 may be any size or shape necessary for press fitting
vibration sensor 304 into opening 332. In one embodiment, vibration
sensor 304 may be secured in opening 332 by fastening means (not
shown), such as nut and bolt, pin, adhesive, or any other fastening
means known in the art for securing vibration sensor 304 in opening
332.
[0041] Pivot 312 may be located at middle portions 320 and 326 of
first and second elongated members 308 and 310. Pivot may include a
compression spring (not shown) between first elongated member 308
and second elongated member 310 for resiliently biasing handles 318
and 324 to an open position such that jaw 316 and jaw 322 are
spaced apart to be placed on a surface. Pivot 312 may further
include a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking clamps 306 in a
closed position when flat portions 328 and 330 of jaws 316 and 322
are secured on respective surfaces of rotating machine 502. As
such, handle 318 of first elongated member 308 may further include
an actuator mechanism 334 for actuating the locking mechanism
between a locked position and an unlocked position. It is
understood that any type of spring, such as a leaf spring, may be
used at pivot 312 for resiliently biasing handles 318 and 324 to an
open position. In one embodiment, handle 324 may also include an
aperture 336 for securing (e.g., by a clip or the like) clamps 306
onto, for example, a tool belt, a belt loop, a bag, or the
like.
[0042] Middle portions 320 and 326 may each include a bore (not
shown) for receiving fastening means 314 to secure first elongated
member 308 to second elongated member 310. For example, handle 324
may include an aperture 327 for receiving handle 318. Further,
middle portions 320 and 326 may be sized and shaped such that
middle portion 320 of first elongated member 308 is received by
middle portion 326 of second elongated member 310. The bores of
middle portions 320 and 326 may be aligned such that fastening
means 314 may be placed into each of the bores and secured (e.g.,
by a nut). When handles 318 and 324 are compressed to the closed
position, handle 218 may be compressed into aperture 327 of handle
324. Thus, first elongated member 308 may be pivotably coupled to
second elongated member 310.
[0043] Clamps 306 may include a shape and design for ergonomics
while being held by a user and for saving space for storage, for
example, on a tool belt of the user. As such, handles 318 and 324
may include a flat design (as shown in FIG. 3) to reduce an overall
size of clamps 306.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, portable vibration sensor 402 may
include a vibration sensor 404 mounted in clamps 406 for placing
the portable vibration sensor 402 on a respective rotating machine
502. Vibration sensor 404 may be powered by a battery or the like.
In one embodiment, vibration sensor 404 may harvest energy from
vibrations of rotating machine 502, such as via a piezoelectric
device. Vibration sensor 404 may include a wireless transceiver for
wirelessly communicating with a mobile computing device 112 and/or
server system 104 of ground system 102. For example, vibration
sensor 404 may communicate with the mobile computing device 112
and/or server system 104 via Bluetooth.RTM., WiFi, radio, cellular,
infrared, or any other type of wireless communication known in the
art. As such, vibration sensor 404 may communicate with the mobile
computing device 112 and/or server system 104 to send vibration
data to the mobile computing device 112 and/or server system 104,
as further detailed below.
[0045] Clamps 406 may include a first elongated member 408 and a
second elongated member 410. First elongated member 408 may be
pivotably coupled to second elongated member 410 at a pivot 412 by
fastening means 414. Fastening means 414 may be a nut and bolt,
pin, or the like. First elongated member 408 may include a jaw 416
at a front end portion 417 thereof, a handle 418 at a rear end
portion 419, and a middle portion 420 between jaw 416 and handle
418. Similarly, second elongated member 410 may include a jaw 422
at a front end portion 423 thereof, a handle 424 at a rear end
portion 425, and a middle portion 426 between jaw 422 and handle
424.
[0046] Jaw 416 may include a flat portion 428 and jaw 422 may
include a flat portion 430 spaced from, and facing, flat portion
428 of jaw 416 for biasing a surface of rotating machine 502, as
further detailed below. Jaw 416 may further include an opening 432
located on an opposite side of flat portion 428 for receiving
vibration sensor 404. Opening 432 may include a size and shape
corresponding to vibration sensor 404 such that vibration sensor
404 may be press fit into opening 432. For example, opening 432 may
include a generally rectangular shape corresponding to a
rectangular shape of vibration sensor 404. It is understood that
opening 432 may be any size or shape necessary for press fitting
vibration sensor 404 into opening 432. In one embodiment, vibration
sensor 404 may be secured in opening 432 by fastening means (not
shown), such as nut and bolt, pin, adhesive, or any other fastening
means known in the art for securing vibration sensor 404 in opening
432.
[0047] Pivot 412 may be located at middle portions 420 and 426 of
first and second elongated members 408 and 410. Pivot may include a
compression spring (not shown) between first elongated member 408
and second elongated member 410 for resiliently biasing handles 418
and 424 to an open position such that jaw 416 and jaw 422 are
spaced apart to be placed on a surface. Pivot 412 may further
include a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking clamps 406 in a
closed position when flat portions 428 and 430 of jaws 416 and 422
are secured on respective surfaces of rotating machine 502. As
such, handle 418 of first elongated member 408 may further include
an actuator mechanism 434 for actuating the locking mechanism
between a locked position and an unlocked position. It is
understood that any type of spring, such as a leaf spring, may be
used at pivot 412 for resiliently biasing handles 418 and 424 to an
open position. In one embodiment, handle 418 may also include an
aperture 436 for securing (e.g., by a clip or the like) clamps 406
onto, for example, a tool belt, a belt loop, a bag, or the
like.
[0048] Middle portions 420 and 426 may each include a bore (not
shown) for receiving fastening means 414 to secure first elongated
member 408 to second elongated member 410. For example, middle
portion 420 of first elongated member 408 may include an opening
437 for receiving middle portion 426 of second elongated member
410. As such, second elongated member 410 may extend through
opening 437 when coupled to first elongated member 408 such that
first elongated member 408 and second elongated member 410 form a
generally "X" shape when coupled together. The bores of middle
portions 420 and 426 may be aligned such that fastening means 414
may be placed into each of the bores and secured (e.g., by a nut).
Thus, first elongated member 408 may be pivotably coupled to second
elongated member 410.
[0049] Clamps 406 may include a shape and design for ergonomics
while being held by a user and for saving space for storage, for
example, on a tool belt of the user. As such, handles 418 and 424
may include a curvature (as shown in FIG. 4) for easily and
comfortably fitting into the user's hand. As such, handles 418 and
424 may be spaced apart from each other.
[0050] FIG. 5 depicts the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402
mounted on a rotating machine 502 isolated from a vehicle 110 of
system 100. In the exemplary embodiment, rotating machine 502 may
be a vacuum blower for a waste system of a vehicle 110, such as an
aircraft. A user, such as a maintenance technician, may board a
respective vehicle 110 (e.g., an aircraft) while the vehicle 110 is
parked (e.g., during a maintenance check). For example, when the
vehicle 110 is an aircraft, the user may board the aircraft while
the aircraft is on the ground. The user may mount a portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 onto a flat surface 504 of the
rotating machine 502. Flat surface 504 may be located adjacent a
housing 506 of rotating machine 502. To prevent the portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 from moving during operation of
rotating machine 502, the user may place the portable vibration
sensor 202, 302, 402 such that it is spaced from housing 506 (e.g.,
by at least 0.5 inches). Further, the user may clean the portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 of any foreign object debris prior
to mounting the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 on the
rotating machine 502.
[0051] The user may use an application 700 on a mobile computing
device 112 to begin a test of the rotating machine 502, as further
detailed below (with reference to FIGS. 7A-7G). The portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 may measure and collect vibration
data of the rotating machine 502 during the test. In one
embodiment, portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 may be powered
by a battery and may turn on (e.g., wake up) when vibration
frequency of the rotating machine 502 reaches a predetermined
threshold. In one embodiment, portable vibration sensor 202, 302,
402 may wirelessly communicate with the mobile computing device 112
to send vibration data to the mobile computing device 112 via
application 700. For example, portable vibration sensor 202, 302,
402 may be in communication with mobile computing device 112 via
Bluetooth.RTM., Wi-Fi, radio, cellular, infrared, or any other type
of wireless or wired communication known in the art. The mobile
computing device 112 (via application 700) may then send the
vibration data to server system 104 through network 108. In one
embodiment, the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 may be
wirelessly connected to network 108 (e.g., via Wi-Fi, radio,
cellular, or the like). As such, server system 104 may receive the
vibration data directly from the portable vibration sensor 202,
302, 402 through network 108. Server system 104 may generate a
health report 802 for rotating machine 502 based on the received
vibration data, as further detailed below.
[0052] In one embodiment, server system 104 may generate an alert
if the received vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold
value of known vibration data for the rotating machine 502. For
example, server system 104 may compare the received vibration data
(e.g., from the test) with known vibration data for a respective
rotating machine 502 and generate an alert if the received
vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the known
vibration data. The known vibration data may be collected during
trial tests of rotating machine 502 prior to rotating machine 502
being installed on a respective vehicle 110. For example,
technicians may perform trial tests on rotating machine 502 to
pre-measure vibration frequency data of rotating machine 502.
Server system 104 may receive the pre-measured vibration frequency
data. Server system 104 may correlate peaks of the pre-measured
vibration frequency data for the rotating machine 502 to determine
the vibration values that correspond to a failure condition of
rotating machine 502. For example, the peaks of the pre-measured
vibration frequency data may correspond to failure conditions such
as clogs, leaks, or damage to certain components (e.g., fans,
bearings, etc.) of rotating machine 502. Server system 104 may
store the determined vibration values for the threshold value in
one or more databases 106 as the predetermined threshold value of
the known vibration data for a respective rotating machine 502.
Thus, server system 104 may determine if the received vibration
data (e.g., measured during a test of rotating machine 502) exceeds
the threshold value of the known vibration data.
[0053] In one embodiment, the determined vibration values for the
threshold value may indicate impending failure of a specific
component of rotating machine 502 (e.g., a fan, a bearing, etc.).
For example, the predetermined threshold value of known vibration
data may include a plurality of threshold values. Each of the
plurality of threshold values may correspond to a failure mode of a
different component of rotating machine 502. As such, server system
104 may generate an alert to indicate a respective component of
rotating machine 502 is failing if the received vibration data
exceeds a respective threshold value corresponding to that
component.
[0054] In one embodiment, server system 104 may provide a
recommended corrective action to the user via application 700
and/or web portal 800. Based on the comparison of the received
vibration data to the known vibration data, server system 104 may
indicate a corrective action to mitigate the failure of rotating
machine 502. For example, server system 104 may determine that
rotating machine 502 and/or a component of the rotating machine 502
may need to be replaced based on the received vibration data and
send a notification and/or alert to the user via application 700
and/or web portal 800. The notification and/or alert may indicate
that rotating machine 502 and/or the component should be replaced.
In one embodiment, server system 104 may determine that there is a
clog in the rotating machine 502 (e.g., in the vacuum blower) based
on the received vibration data and notify the user of the clog.
[0055] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of a method 600 for monitoring
the health of a rotating machine 502 mounted on a vehicle 110. In
an initial step 605, a processor of server system 104 may receive
identifying information of the vehicle 110, the rotating machine
502, and a portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 mounted on the
rotating machine 502. In one embodiment, the processor may receive
the identifying information from application 700 on the mobile
computing device 112.
[0056] In step 610, the processor may receive vibration data from
the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 during a test of the
rotating machine 502, the received vibration data being associated
with the identifying information of the vehicle 110, the rotating
machine 502, and the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402. In
one embodiment, the processor may receive the vibration data from
application 700 on the mobile computing device 112
[0057] In step 615, the processor may compare the received
vibration data with known vibration data for the rotating machine
502. In one embodiment, the processor of server system 104 may
generate the known vibration data by pre-measured vibration data
for the rotating machine during one or more trial tests of the
rotating machine prior to the rotating machine being mounted on the
vehicle.
[0058] In step 620, the processor may generate an alert if the
received vibration data exceeds a predetermined threshold value of
the known vibration data by a predetermined threshold value. In one
embodiment, the processor of server system 104 may determine the
predetermined threshold value of the known vibration data for the
rotating machine by correlating peaks of the pre-measured vibration
data to failure conditions of the rotating machine. In one
embodiment, the predetermined threshold value of known vibration
data may include a plurality of predetermined threshold values each
corresponding to a failure condition of a different component of
the rotating machine.
[0059] In step 625, the processor may generate a health report for
the rotating machine 502 based on the received vibration data. The
health report may include the received vibration data associated
with the identifying information of the vehicle 110, the rotating
machine 502, and the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402. The
health report may further include the generated alert. In one
embodiment, the processor may generate one or more alerts if the
received vibration data exceeds one or more the plurality of
predetermined threshold values of the known vibration data. The one
or more generated alerts may each indicate a respective component
of the rotating machine is failing. In one embodiment, the
processor may determine a suggested corrective action for the user
based on the comparing of the received vibration data with the
known vibration data and transmit the suggested corrective action
to the user. In one embodiment, the processor may generate one or
more graphical representations of the received vibration data and
the one or more graphical representations of the received vibration
data may be included in the generated health report.
[0060] In step 630, the processor may transmit the health report to
a user via a web portal. In one embodiment, the processor may
transmit the health report to the user via email, text, or through
application 700 on the mobile computing device 112.
[0061] FIGS. 7A-7G depict an exemplary application 700 for a mobile
computing device 112 used in the system 100 for monitoring the
health of a rotating machine 502. In one embodiment, application
700 may be a connected rotating machine application. In the
exemplary embodiment, application 700 may be a connected vacuum
blower application. As shown in FIG. 7A, application 700 may
include a login page 702. Login page 702 may enable a user, such as
a maintenance technician, to login to the application 700. As such,
login page 702 may include fields to input information. For
example, login page 702 may include an email address field 702a and
a password field 702b. Login page 702 may further include a sign in
button 703. After the user inputs the login information, the user
may select the sign in button 703 to login to application 700. For
example, server system 104 may receive the login information (e.g.,
email address and password) of the user, verify the login
information, and log the user in to the application 700.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 7B, application 700 may also include a
select vehicle page 704. Select vehicle page 704 may enable the
user to input the identifying information of the vehicle 110. For
example, when the vehicle 110 is an aircraft, select vehicle page
704 may include a select tail number field 704a for selecting the
tail number of the aircraft. However, any type of identifying
information of a vehicle 110 may be used, such as serial number,
license plate number, registration number, or the like. The select
vehicle page 704 may further include a select rotating machine 704b
field (e.g., a select vacuum blower field) for selecting the
rotating machine 502 (e.g., vacuum blower) that is being tested
(e.g., left or right vacuum blower). Select vehicle page 704 may
further include a continue button 704c to continue to the next page
after the vehicle 110 information has been entered. For example,
server system 104 may receive the identity information of the
vehicle 110 and the rotating machine 502 input by the user via
application 700.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 7C, application 700 may further include an
apply clamp page 706. Apply clamp page 706 may enable the user to
input identifying information of the portable vibration sensor 202,
302, 402. For example, apply clamp page 706 may include a select
clamp identifier field 706a for selecting or inputting the
identifying information of the portable vibration sensor 202, 302,
402. The identifying information of the portable vibration sensor
202, 302, 402 may include a name of the sensor (e.g., Sensor1a), an
identification number, a registration number, a serial number, or
the like. Apply clamp page 706 may also include an image and/or
video showing an example of how to place the portable vibration
sensor 202, 302, 402 on the rotating machine 502. Apply clamp page
706 may further include a continue button 706c to continue to the
next page after the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402
information has been entered. For example, server system 104 may
receive the identity information of the portable vibration sensor
202, 302, 402 input by the user via application 700.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 7D, application 700 may further include a
start test page 708. Start test page 708 may include a list of the
identifying information entered on the select aircraft page 704 and
the apply clamp page 706 to enable the user to verify that the
identity information received by server system 104 is accurate.
Start test page 708 may also include a ready indicator 708a for
indicating that the identifying information has been received by
the processor of server system 104 and the application 700 is ready
to perform the test. Start test page 708 may further include a
start test button 708b for starting a test on the rotating machine
502. For example, when the user selects the start test button 708b,
server system 104 may begin a test via application 700. Server
system 104 (via application 700) may run rotating machine 502 and
receive vibration data from portable vibration sensor 202, 302,
402. In one embodiment, application 700 may run rotating machine
502 and receive vibration data from portable vibration sensor 202,
302, 402 on the mobile computing device 112 prior to sending the
received vibration data to server system 104. Server system 104 may
associate the received vibration data with the identity information
of the vehicle 110, the portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402,
and the rotating machine 502. For example, the received vibration
data may correspond to the vehicle 110 on which the rotating
machine 502 being tested is mounted and may correspond to the
portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 being used for the
test.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 7E, application 700 may include a test page
710. Test page 710 may include a test progress indicator 710a. Test
progress indicator 710a may indicate a duration of time remaining
for the test. The duration of time for a test may be predetermined
and the test progress indicator 710a may indicate a percentage
value of the duration of time the test has completed based on the
predetermined duration of time for the test. For example, if the
predetermined duration of time for a test is one minute, and 45
seconds have elapsed for the current test, test progress indicator
710a may indicate that 75% of the test has been completed. Test
page 710 may also include an image 710b of a system or machine that
the rotating machine 502 being tested is installed on. For example,
when the rotating machine 502 is a vacuum blower of a waste system
on an aircraft, the image 710b may be a waste system flushing
mechanism. Test page 710 may further include a stop test button
710c for stopping a test in progress. For example, the user may
select the stop test button 710c to stop the current test. When the
user selects the stop test button 710c, server system 104 may stop
the test such that the rotating machine 502 stops running and/or
server system 104 stops receiving vibration data from portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 for the test.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 7F, application 700 may further include a
test complete page 712. Application 700 may display test complete
page 712 when the current test is completed. As such test complete
page 712 may include a test progress indicator 712a that indicates
the test is 100% complete. Test complete page 712 may also include
the current time and date that the test was completed. In one
embodiment, when a test is completed, application 700 may collect
and send the vibration data measured by portable vibration sensor
202, 302, 402 during the test to server system 104. Test complete
page 712 may further include a view full report button 712b. When
the user selects the view full report button 712b, server system
104 (via application 700) may display a generated health report for
the rotating machine 502 on the mobile computing device 112.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 7G, application 700 may further include a
vibration report page 714 to display the generated health report
for the rotating machine 502. The health report may be generated by
method 600, as detailed above. The vibration report page 714 may
also include a run test again button 714a and a start over button
714b. When the user selects the run test again button 714a,
application 700 (or server system 104 via application 700) may
restart the test, thus displaying the test page 710. When the user
selects the start over again button 714b, application 700 (or
server system 104 via application 700) may display the select
vehicle page 704 to start the process again for enabling the user
to select new information (e.g., when the user places the portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402 on a different rotating machine 502
of a different vehicle 110).
[0068] FIGS. 8A and 8B depict an exemplary web portal 800 for
displaying a health report of the rotating machine 502. As shown in
FIG. 8A, web portal 800 may include a general health report 802a
showing a drill-down dashboard of each vehicle 110 that has been
tested. For example, the general health report 802a may include a
vehicle type selector bar 804 for selecting a type of vehicle 110
to be displayed. The vehicle type may be, for example, type of
aircraft, type of car, type of boat, type of spacecraft, etc. In
the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle type selector bar 404
includes three different types of vehicles 110 (e.g., vehicle 1,
vehicle 2, and vehicle 3). The general health report 802a may
further include a table 806 for displaying status information for
each rotating machine 502 that has been tested for a selected
vehicle type. For example, table 806 may display the time and date
of the test, the identifying information of the vehicle 110, the
portable vibration sensor 202, 302, 402, and the rotating machine
502, and an average value of vibration for each rotating machine
502 measured during the test for each associated portable vibration
sensor 202, 302, 402. In the exemplary embodiment, table 806 may
display a tail number for each type of aircraft that has been
tested, the sensor ID associated with each respective test, and the
average vibration value for each rotating machine 502 on which the
test was administered. General health report 802a may further
include a view full report button 808 for displaying a detailed
health report 802b for a respective vehicle 110. For example, when
a user selects the view full report button 808 for a respective
vehicle 110, web portal 800 may display the detailed health report
802b.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 8B, the detailed health report 802b may
display general information 810 from the general health report 802a
for the respective vehicle 110 (e.g., the time and date of the
test, the identifying information of the vehicle 110, the portable
vibration sensor 202, 302, 402, and the rotating machine 502 and
the average value of vibration data for the test). The detailed
health report 802b may further include one or more graphical
representations 812 of the vibration data for each of the rotating
machines 502 of the test. For example, the one or more graphical
representations 412 may plot the vibration data in an acceleration
(g) versus time (s) graph. However, it is understood that any type
of graphical representation (e.g., frequency (kHz) vs. time (s),
etc.) or general representation (e.g., charts, tables, etc.) of the
vibration data may be utilized for displaying the vibration data
for each rotating machine 502. The one or more graphical
representations 812 may include vibration data measured for various
tests including the most recent test. Detailed health report 802b
may also include a graphical representation 814 of vibration data
over a period of months. In the exemplary embodiment, when the
rotating machine 502 includes a left vacuum blower and a right
vacuum blower, the graphical representation 814 may combine the
vibration data of the left vacuum blower and the right vacuum
blower into a single graph.
[0070] In one embodiment, the health report 802 (e.g., the general
health report 802a and/or the detailed health report 802b) may
include a generated alert indicating failure of rotating machine
502, as detailed above. The generated alert may be displayed on the
general health report 802a and/or the detailed health report 802b
or may be sent to user via email, text, or push notification. The
generated alert may include a color indicator for indicating a
health of rotating machine 502. For example, green may indicate the
rotating machine 502 is healthy (e.g., the received vibration data
does not exceed the predetermined threshold value of known
vibration data for the rotating machine 502). Yellow may indicate
the rotating machine 502 is approaching failure (e.g., the received
vibration data is near or minimally exceeds the predetermined
threshold value of known vibration data for the rotating machine
502). Red may indicate the rotating machine 502 is failing or has
failed (e.g., the received vibration data exceeds or greatly
exceeds the predetermined threshold value of known vibration data
for the rotating machine 502). It is understood that the alert may
be any type of alert for indicating the health of rotating machine
502 is failing or has failed, such as any color, symbol, text,
number, or the like.
[0071] FIG. 9 depicts a high-level functional block diagram of an
exemplary computer device or system, in which embodiments of the
present disclosure, or portions thereof, may be implemented, e.g.,
as computer-readable code. For example, each of the exemplary
systems, user interfaces and methods described above with respect
to FIGS. 1-8B can be implemented in device 900 using hardware,
software, firmware, tangible computer readable media having
instructions stored thereon, or a combination thereof and may be
implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing
systems. Hardware, software, or any combination of such may
implement each of the exemplary systems, user interfaces, and
methods described above with respect to FIGS. 1-8B.
[0072] If programmable logic is used, such logic may execute on a
commercially available processing platform or a special purpose
device. One of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with
various computer system configurations, including multi-core
multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers,
computer linked or clustered with distributed functions, as well as
pervasive or miniature computers that may be embedded into
virtually any device.
[0073] For instance, at least one processor device and a memory may
be used to implement the above-described embodiments. A processor
device may be a single processor, a plurality of processors, or
combinations thereof. Processor devices may have one or more
processor "cores."
[0074] Various embodiments of the present disclosure, as described
above in the examples of FIGS. 1-8B may be implemented using device
900. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a
person skilled in the relevant art how to implement embodiments of
the present disclosure using other computer systems and/or computer
architectures. Although operations may be described as a sequential
process, some of the operations may in fact be performed in
parallel, concurrently, and/or in a distributed environment, and
with program code stored locally or remotely for access by single
or multi-processor machines. In addition, in some embodiments the
order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the
spirit of the disclosed subject matter.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 9, device 900 may include a central
processing unit (CPU) 920. CPU 920 may be any type of processor
device including, for example, any type of special purpose or a
general-purpose microprocessor device. As will be appreciated by
persons skilled in the relevant art, CPU 920 also may be a single
processor in a multi-core/multiprocessor system, such system
operating alone, or in a cluster of computing devices operating in
a cluster or server farm. CPU 920 may be connected to a data
communication infrastructure 910, for example, a bus, message
queue, network, or multi-core message-passing scheme.
[0076] Device 900 may also include a main memory 940, for example,
random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory
930. Secondary memory 930, e.g., a read-only memory (ROM), may be,
for example, a hard disk drive or a removable storage drive. Such a
removable storage drive may comprise, for example, a floppy disk
drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash
memory, or the like. The removable storage drive in this example
reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a
well-known manner. The removable storage unit may comprise a floppy
disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and
written to by the removable storage drive. As will be appreciated
by persons skilled in the relevant art, such a removable storage
unit generally includes a computer usable storage medium having
stored therein computer software and/or data.
[0077] In alternative implementations, secondary memory 930 may
include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other
instructions to be loaded into device 900. Examples of such means
may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as
that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as
an EPROM, or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable
storage units and interfaces, which allow software and data to be
transferred from a removable storage unit to device 900.
[0078] Device 900 may also include a communications interface
("COM") 960. Communications interface 960 allows software and data
to be transferred between device 900 and external devices.
Communications interface 960 may include a modem, a network
interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a
PCMCIA slot and card, or the like. Software and data transferred
via communications interface 960 may be in the form of signals,
which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals
capable of being received by communications interface 960. These
signals may be provided to communications interface 960 via a
communications path of device 900, which may be implemented using,
for example, wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular
phone link, an RF link or other communications channels.
[0079] The hardware elements, operating systems and programming
languages of such equipment are conventional in nature, and it is
presumed that those skilled in the art are adequately familiar
therewith. Device 900 also may include input and output ports 950
to connect with input and output devices such as keyboards, mice,
touchscreens, monitors, displays, etc. Of course, the various
server functions may be implemented in a distributed fashion on a
number of similar platforms, to distribute the processing load.
Alternatively, the servers may be implemented by appropriate
programming of one computer hardware platform.
[0080] The systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods disclosed
herein are described in detail by way of examples and with
reference to the figures. The examples discussed herein are
examples only and are provided to assist in the explanation of the
apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods described herein. None
of the features or components shown in the drawings or discussed
below should be taken as mandatory for any specific implementation
of any of these the apparatuses, devices, systems, or methods
unless specifically designated as mandatory. For ease of reading
and clarity, certain components, modules, or methods may be
described solely in connection with a specific figure. In this
disclosure, any identification of specific techniques,
arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example
presented or are merely a general description of such a technique,
arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples
are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory
or limiting unless specifically designated as such. Any failure to
specifically describe a combination or sub-combination of
components should not be understood as an indication that any
combination or sub-combination is not possible. It will be
appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples,
arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses,
devices, systems, methods, etc. can be made and may be desired for
a specific application. Also, for any methods described, regardless
of whether the method is described in conjunction with a flow
diagram, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified or
required by context, any explicit or implicit ordering of steps
performed in the execution of a method does not imply that those
steps must be performed in the order presented but instead may be
performed in a different order or in parallel.
[0081] Throughout this disclosure, references to components or
modules generally refer to items that logically can be grouped
together to perform a function or group of related functions. Like
reference numerals are generally intended to refer to the same or
similar components. Components and modules can be implemented in
software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The
term "software" is used expansively to include not only executable
code, for example machine-executable or machine-interpretable
instructions, but also data structures, data stores and computing
instructions stored in any suitable electronic format, including
firmware, and embedded software. The terms "information" and "data"
are used expansively and includes a wide variety of electronic
information, including executable code; content such as text, video
data, and audio data, among others; and various codes or flags. The
terms "information," "data," and "content" are sometimes used
interchangeably when permitted by context.
[0082] It is intended that the specification and examples be
considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the
disclosure being indicated by the following claims.
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